The agency yesterday agreed to stop setting off charges on certain parts of the Second Avenue subway route, following a barrage of air-quality complaints from furious Upper East Siders almost as loud as the dynamiting itself.

The hold on blasting — which began yesterday — will last until Dec. 5 along East 72nd Street, during which time the agency will try to figure out ways to stop the prairie-style dust storms and noxious fumes that accompany the work.

“Basically, we did this because we heard loud and clear from the community. We heard loud and clear from elected officials,” MTA capital construction program exec William Goodrich said at a Community Board 8 meeting.

His surprise announcement prompted a burst of applause from the audience of Upper East Side residents, many of whom had taken the mike to complain about the after-effects of the explosions, including brownstone-shattering vibrations, foul odors and showers of thick, granular dust.

“I open my windows at night and let me tell you, the air is putrid,” said Donna Pressman.

Joan Schoenberger described the aftermath of blasting like “gun powder that’s going up in the air.”

It’s not good news for everyone, however.

The halt in blasting means some workers employed by contractors on the $4.4 billion project were laid off yesterday, said Goodrich.

It’s not clear whether they’ll get their jobs back when work resumes.

“I have a very difficult time with that, knowing what time of year it is,” he said.